CLEVELAND — Donovan Mitchell scored 42 points, James Harden added 26 and the Cleveland Cavaliers held off the Orlando Magic 136-131 Tuesday night to extend their winning streak to four games.

The Magic’s losing streak climbed to six. They now have a 38-34 and are in a three-way tie with the rising Charlotte Hornets and the Miami Heat. Because of tiebreakers, Orlando currently is eighth in the Eastern Conference standings.

Paolo Banchero had 36 points for Orlando, Tristan da Silva scored 18 and Jamal Cain and Desmond Bane each added 17 points.

The game marked Mitchell’s sixth with at least 40 points this season, tied for fourth-most in the league.

The All-Star guard also continued his mastery of the Magic. It was his third 40-point game in 23 regular-season meetings against Orlando. He is averaging 27.2 against the Magic, the sixth-highest scoring average of any player in NBA history against Orlando.

Harden, who was scoreless in the first half of Saturday’s game at New Orleans, had 22 points and three 3-pointers in the first half as the Cavaliers had a 72-68 lead at halftime. It was his most points in the first two quarters since being acquired by the Cavaliers.

Evan Mobley had 19 points for Cleveland, making all eight of his shots from the field, along with nine rebounds and six assists.

The Cavaliers (45-27) are 2-1/2 games behind the Knicks for third in the Eastern Conference. The Magic, Hornets and Heat are all a game behind the Philadelphia 76ers for the seventh seeding, or top play-in spot, and and two games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the No. 6 spot.

Cleveland had a 114-103 lead with 9 minutes, 19 seconds remaining before Orlando started to slowly rally back. Wendell Carter Jr. sank a pair of free throws with 37.5 seconds remaining, but Mitchell drove the lane and hit a floating 7-foot jumper with 13.7 seconds left to give the Cavaliers breathing room.

Banchero scored 16 in the first quarter as Orlando went up 39-32 after 12 minutes. He was 5 of 7 from the field in the first quarter but 5 of 12 the rest of the game.

Up next

Magic: Host the Sacramento Kings on Thursday.

Cavaliers: Host the Miami Heat on Wednesday.